GOLF NOTEBOOK: South Georgia Tournament Undergoes Some Changes
Jax Golf News
Probably will be some confusion about this fall's PGA Tour stop in Sea Island because of the corporate name change of the sponsor.
It's still The McGladrey Classic, even though the financial services company will be renamed RSM by that time (Nov. 19-22) and the tournament will be rebranded the RSM Classic.
We all probably can live with that because it's generally called the “Sea Island Tournament” anyway.
A few comments about the event:
• It has the best field of the pack of events which now make the PGA Tour a year-round affair, rather than shutting down from October until January.
Tournament founder Davis Love III cashes a lot of chips out there, plus he would have a strong field if he only invited Sea Island residents (Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, etc.)
• They'll use both the Seaside and Plantation courses for the first two rounds, which makes for a much better fan and player experience. No more dawn-to-dusk.
• Not many spectators, so it has the feel of the old GJO days. Hard work by the staff is obvious; they have numerous sponsors, enough at least to get almost a million bucks last year for charity.
• It's too bad that such a good tournament on such wonderful courses is relegated to football season but that's the price of admission to get on the PGA Tour. I'm not sure anyone (other than the players, who like all the $5 million-plus purses) really likes it, but there's nothing that can be done. Too many tournaments, not enough weeks.
• Moving it a month back to mid-November is a big deal for those of us around here because it now is well away from the Web.Com final here at the TPC's Valley course, which will be in early October. Neither tournament is cluttered with all sorts of tents, both provide very close viewing to the players.
